Ambassador Krit Garnjana-goonchorn on current Thai-American relations
By Jon Fernquest[Introduction|Vocabulary|Article]
[Reading Questions|Answers]
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One often wonders what most Americans think about Thailand's current political if they even think about it at all.
Only a handful of schools in the US have scholars studying and teaching Thai Studies.
Today's article is an interview with Thailand's current ambassador to the United States Krit Garnjana-goonchorn. [Biography, photo with President Bush, remarks on the occasion of the presentation of credentials]
a handful of - a small number of, a few
Reading Questions
Here are some questions to guide your reading (See answers at end):1. Is there only one American opinion about (and attitude towards) Thailand's current political situation?
2. What stance does the American media take towards current military rule in Thailand? Why?
3. Are public relations by the government useful in informing the US public and key decisionmakers about all factors behind the current Thai political situation? Why? (Use inference)
4. Which key organisations and people within the United States "understand" and do not "understand" the current political situation in Thailand? (Classify the organisations and people cited in the article)
5. What fact about His Majesty the King helps maintain good American Thai relations even through turbulent periods such as the present?
6. What was the purpose of the coup? What wasn't the purpose of the coup?
7. What is the key future event that will make Thailand look better in American eyes?
8. What is the last remaining undemocratic element in current Thai governance that remains to be removed?
9. How has the Thai community in the US helped Thailand recently?
10. Who have lobbyists hired by Thaksin and pharmaceutical companies had an effect on? The US Congress?
11. Is there a connection between the lobbying of pharmaceutical companies and the lobbying of Thaksin?
12. What other issue in Thailand, besides the coup, have Americans expressed concern about? Why?
13. Has the US government recognised Thaksin as a legitimate ruler of Thailand in any way?
Bangkok Post Article March 28, 2007
02-09-2007 On The Record ColumnWHAT'S THE VIEW STATESIDE?
ACHARA ASHAYAGACHATThai ambassador to the United States Krit Garnjana-goonchorn recently talked to reporters while returning to Bangkok for the annual diplomatic meeting. ACHARA ASHAYAGACHAT compiled his comments on America's position on post-coup Thai politics.
stateside - back in the United States (from slang used by US military stationed abroad)
- How is Thailand's image in the eyes of Washington since the Sept 19 coup until now?
There is no unified attitude. The US media are free and are critical against military rule. They might not have time to reconsider Thailand's special circumstances, which is unfortunate. But we still have to explain and inform them how we are fixing our problems.
Think-tanks usually understand us and many government agencies are in line with the State Department and the National Security Council.
The US Trade Representative might take a slightly different step by downgrading Thailand to the priority watch list, cutting the GSP [Generalised System of Preferences], and pausing FTA [free trade agreement] negotiations.
US$35 million in aid was slashed but a similar amount is still maintained for humanitarian assistance to Thailand.
Overall, a goodwill of friendship and understanding towards Thai people and the monarchy [persists]. After all, His Majesty the King is the only monarch born on American soil.
For the outside world, we cannot change their attitude towards the coup d'etat overnight as they do not live in the crisis like us so they do not know how serious the situation is.
The coup was a tool to unlock Thailand's political impasse but not an attempt to replace democracy.
Now Thailand is going to have an election and is poised to look better in US eyes. Everything has been delivered along the path to democracy, except the lifting of martial law in some provinces.
The Thai community in the US has also helped save the image of Thailand. They wrote against a motion proposed by Mark Kirk, the House member from Illinois, to revoke Thailand's status of non-Nato major ally.
The assistant secretary of state Eric John, who will be the ambassador in Bangkok next year, has also praised the democratic conscience of Thai citizens. He emphasised that whatever the State Department is doing is to reassert the US political stance against military rule is not against Thai friendship.
President Bush also said during my presentation of credentials in April this year that he was warmly welcomed during the Apec meeting in 2003 and was impressed by the King. Mr Bush kindly said that he very much looked forward to the election which will immensely improve relations.
image in the eyes of - the way that other people view and think about you
think-tanks - a organisation that does research for hire and issues reports on the research
National Security Council (NSC) - a US government agency advising the president on national security and military-related matters, also supervises the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
US Trade Representative - US government agency responsible for United States' international trade policy at
priority watch list - a list of countries that in the opinion of the US Trade Representative are not doing enough to enforce intellectual property rights
GSP [Generalised System of Preferences] -
humanitarian assistance - foreign aid from a richer country to a poorer country to help with special needs caused by natural disasters, armed conflicts, or poverty
persists - continues to exist
cannot change overnight - will take a long time to change, cannot change quickly
impasse - a problem that is difficult to overcome and move beyond
martial law - military law that replaces the normal (civilian) law of a country for a period of time
NATO - alliance between United States and non-communist European countries such as France and Germany during the cold war between the Communist Soviet Union and western countries
conscience - the part of the human mind that tells a person whether what they are doing is right or wrong
reassert - make strong again
stance - attitude on an issue
credentials - a letter or certificate that proves one's identity and qualifications
- How effective are the US lobbyists against the coup makers and interim government?
The efficiency of lobbying largely depends on the substance and also the calibre of each lobbyist.
So far, no lobbyist or even Mr Thaksin himself could make their presence felt at Capitol Hill. So [lobbying] does not work, but might work for the local Thai media that pay attention to just a piece of paper.
lobbyists - hired consultants who try to influence governments and change laws in favour of their clients
calibre of - the quality and ability of
- The Thaksin-initiated lobby against the interim government might fail but vested groups such as drug firms seem to be able to put Thailand in the international spotlight?
I cannot confirm the connection between the drug firms and the former prime minister.
The pharmaceutical industry made a big song and dance about it by hiring USA for Innovations, prior to Public Health Minister Dr Mongkol na Songkhla's visit to the US for discussion on compulsory licensing (CL). Apart from the CL, there is also concern on the plight of the Hmong in the Thai camp.
vested groups - groups with vested interests, who will gain or lose depending on the outcome of events
put in the international spotlight - make well-known internationally
confirm - say something believed to be true is definitely true
make a big song and dance about -
USA for Innovations - an NGO that large pharmaceuticals apparently set up through Washington public relations firms to fight to fight a battle against Thailand's compulsory licensing without letting their identity be known
compulsory licensing (CL) - a legal way to avoid intellectual propertry rights (IP) in emergency situations under the WTO TRIPS agreement
the plight of - the difficult situation of
- How will the US engage Thailand in post-election politics?
They will not look at Thailand as a military-ruled country but consider the different opinions as part of the [democratic] process.
- If Mr Thaksin launched a fight in the name of a government-in-exile, how would the US and other countries react?
During the past year, we have not seen any government gesture recognising the former prime minister. Therefore, his status after the election is even further beyond what you said.
government-in-exile - a group of people claiming to lead a government for a country outside of the country
- Gen Surayud will step up to the podium during the United Nations General Assembly. What message will the current premier give to the same assembly?
Gen Surayud will be in a strong position to reassure all the UN members that Thailand has just had a new constitution and we are holding an election on Dec 23.
His presence in New York will be significant for restoring confidence in Thailand. The message that "Thailand is back in business and we are not weak but confident in playing a leading role in the region" will be strongly sent to the world.
reassure - make confident that
Vocabulary (in discussion above)
Answer Key:
1. Is there only one American opinion about (and attitude towards) Thailand's current political situation?
No, there are a whole spectrum of opinions and attitudes based on circumstances of the person or organisation.
2. What stance does the American media take towards current military rule in Thailand? Why?
Against military rule, because the US media are free, critical, and do not have a lot of time to analyse events in sufficient depth.
3. Are public relations by the government useful in informing the US public and key decisionmakers about all factors behind the current Thai political situation? Why? (Use inference)
Yes, explaining how Thailand is "fixing" its problems is necessary because Americans may "not have time to reconsider Thailand's special circumstances."
4. Which key organisations and people within the United States "understand" and do not "understand" the current political situation in Thailand? (Classify the organisations and people cited in the article)
Understand:
a. many think tanks in the US
b. Many government agencies
c. The State Department
d. The National Security Council
e. Secretary of State Eric John
f. President Bush
Don't understand:
a. The US Trade Representative
b. Some members of the US Congress like Mark Kirk from Illinois
5. What fact about His Majesty the King helps maintain good American Thai relations even through turbulent periods such as the present?
His Majesty the King is the only Thai monarch born on Thai soil.
6. What was the purpose of the coup? What wasn't the purpose of the coup?
The coup overcame the political impasse not replace democracy
7. What is the key future event that will make Thailand look better in American eyes?
The upcoming election in December.
8. What is the last remaining undemocratic element in current Thai governance that remains to be removed?
Martial law in some provinces.
9. How has the Thai community in the US helped Thailand recently?
They fought a motion in Congress to have Thailand's status as a non-NATO major ally revoked.
10. Who have lobbyists hired by Thaksin and pharmaceutical companies had an effect on? The US Congress?
Lobbyists may have had more of an effect on the local Thai media than anyone else. None of these lobbyists has had an effect on the US Senate or Congress.
11. Is there a connection between the lobbying of pharmaceutical companies and the lobbying of Thaksin?
There is no proved relation between the two that the ambassador can confirm.
(Note: The original speculation that the two might be connected was based on the fact that they both employed the same public relations firm.)
12. What other issue in Thailand, besides the coup, have Americans expressed concern about? Why?
The fate of Hmong refugees on Thailand's border with Laos that face extradition and return to Laos where they might be in danger of imprisonment or persecution. Many Hmong participated with American troops during the Vietnam War and later took refugee in the United States as refugees when the communist government took over.
13. Has the US government recognised Thaksin as a legitimate ruler of Thailand in any way?
No.
